Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering : Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Flight Performance, and Orbital Mechanics — Core Equations and Fully Solved Step-by-Step Examples for Engineering Students

One textbook. The complete discipline. From subsonic airfoil theory to interplanetary trajectory design.Most aerospace engineering courses and most textbooks force a split. You study aerodynamics and aircraft performance in one course, orbital mechanics and spacecraft systems in another, using separate books with different notation, different assumptions, and no visible connection between them. By the time you reach advanced topics, the gaps in your foundation are already costing you.Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering by Harold K. Schappell bridges that divide in a single, coherent volume, covering both aeronautics and astronautics at a depth that builds genuine engineering judgment, not just the ability to apply formulas.Every topic is taught from first principles. Physical intuition comes before the equations. Governing assumptions are stated explicitly before any result is used, because an equation applied outside its valid range produces numbers that look reasonable and are physically wrong.18 Chapters Across 7 Parts:Foundations: Standard atmosphere, dimensional analysis, SI and US Customary unit systemsAerodynamics: Airfoil theory, subsonic and compressible flow, shock waves, swept wings, and high-lift devicesAircraft Performance: Drag polar, Breguet range equation, climb, ceiling, manoeuvring, and takeoff/landingPropulsion: Turbojet, turbofan, turboprop thermodynamics; rocket propulsion; Tsiolkovsky equation; staging; electric propulsionStructures, Materials, and Stability: Beam bending, fatigue and damage tolerance, aerospace alloys, composites, and static and dynamic stabilityOrbital Mechanics: Keplerian orbits, Hohmann transfers, plane changes, gravity assists, reentry, and interplanetary designSpacecraft Systems: Attitude control, power and thermal budgets, and link budgets80 fully worked examples, every calculation shown step by step with physical interpretation of each result. 250 end-of-chapter exercises organised across three tiers: conceptual review, numerical calculation, and open-ended design problems that mirror professional trade-study practice. Appendices include ISA tables, key equations, physical constants, material properties, planetary data, and a full glossary.Both SI and US Customary units are used throughout, with explicit conversions shown wherever USCS quantities appear, preparing readers for the dual-unit reality of professional aerospace work.Whether you are preparing for your first aerospace course, filling gaps in an engineering background, or building the foundation for advanced study in aerodynamics, propulsion, or astrodynamics, this textbook gives you the depth to understand, not just the formulas to apply. Read more